World famous chefs in the running to replace Jock Zonfrillo
Channel Ten is on the hunt for a new judge to join the MasterChef Australia team, two months after the shocking death of Jock Zonfrillo.
Several world-famous chefs are set to be in the running to join Melissa Leong and Andy Allen, with many prospects appearing on the show as guests before.
"International names such as Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Shannon Bennett have all been thrown around," an insider told Woman's Day.
Despite the hopes for these chefs to join the cast, the insider said their intense schedules has made booking them for the competitive cooking show "a pipe dream".
The network is also reported to be considering bringing back "heritage" names to the show, such as original judges George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, to attract older viewers.
Despite the discussions of Zonfrillo's replacement, rumours have also circulated that Leong and Allen may continue on as co-hosts of the show without a third colleague.
The Herald Sun reported that the cooking duo may instead go into the next season alongside a rotating roster of guest judges.
Meanwhile, others have suggested Melissa, 41, and Andy, 35, may be planning to quit MasterChef as they continue to grapple with the tragic death of their co-star.
Some fans are convinced the entire hosting panel may be replaced altogether, after Channel Ten refused to confirm Jock's replacement in the recent casting call.
The popular cooking show was thrown into disarray after Jock Zonfrillo's devastating death on April 30th, the day the newest season of MasterChef was due to air, with the premiere of the show being delayed a week after his passing.
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